Category Archives: Kaltag

SUNDAY, 2 a.m. — John Baker, Mitch Seavey and Aaron Burmeister sliced about an hour off Aliy Zirkle’s lead Saturday night as the lead pack left the Yukon River and headed to Unalakleet.

But as the Iditarod enters its second week, the battle for the top 10 is as fierce as the battle for first place, and more unpredictable.

Say hello to seventh-place Ken Anderson and eighth-place Michelle Phillips, who jumped into the top 10 late Saturday when they motored through Kaltag after brief stays.

And say whoa to Ray Redington Jr., Pete Kaiser and Jake Berkowitz, who left Kaltag together a little more than an hour after Anderson and Phillips, but with the benefit of more than four hours of rest.

Of the first 11 mushers into Kaltag, Redington registered the fastest time from Nulato, 4 hours, 16 minutes. The next two fastest times belonged to Kaiser (4:20) and Berkowitz (4:25).

Those three — dubbed the Three Musketeers by Sebastian Schnuelle — were roughly 30 minutes faster than any of the teams ahead of them, with the exception of fifth-place Dallas Seavey (4:24).

Zirkle reached Kaltag shortly before noon Saturday, three hours before anyone else. She left at 4:55 p.m.

Baker, Mitch Seavey and Burmeister spent less time at the checkpoint and thereby took more than an hour off Zirkle’s lead. They left at 6:30 p.m., 6:39 p.m. and 6:52 p.m., respectively.

Next to leave were Dallas Seavey (7:37 p.m.) and Jeff King (8:57).

After them were Anderson (10:40 departure, after a 12-minute stay) and Phillips (10:59 p.m., after a 19-minute stay).

After a 4 hour break, the “Three Musketeers” head out on the trail, bound for Unalakleet. Pete and the Team is once again joined by Jake Berkowitz and Ray Redington. See ya in the morning- and “Spring” those clocks forward.

Ken Anderson and Michelle Phillips have a different strategy than those ahead of them. They passed through Kaltag with just a short stop. Another twist to what will be an exciting night of dog mushing! It’s going to be a cold one too!

Pete and the Team have a tailgater! Jake Berkowitz just sits there behind them like a backseat driver. It’s not like a neck and neck race, but it may be a bit mentally challenging to have someone just “There” all the time. Lucky for Pete, this isn’t the first time he has had to battle someone just behind him. In Iditarod 2011, Ken Anderson, was behind him for nearly the last half of the race. More recently in the Paul Johnson Memorial 450, John Schandelmeier followed him aggressively into Nome.

The three teams, Kaiser, Berkowitz and Redington are within 500ft of each other. In terms of time, that is a virtual dead heat. Maybe 10 seconds behind is Berkowitz and another 20 seconds is Redington.

It’s got to be a bit tiring with teams so close, so Go Team Kaiser!! Battle ON!